Box



Sept. 30, 1947. D. A. BEADELL BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6, 1947 r m m I Don A. Beddell Patented Sept. 30, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOX Don A. Beadell, Austin, Minn. Application May 6, 1947, Serial N; 746,207

Claims.

This invention relates to a box, and more particularly to a letter box of the type employed for domestic use.

The primary object of the invention is to protect letters, parcels and the like from the elements while they are awaiting collection.

Another object is easily and quickly to gain access to the contents of the box, and to enable the access opening of the box to be easily and quickly closed and sealed against the elements.

The above and other objects maygbe attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features a box comprising a rectangular back, a bottom at the lower end of the back, a front wall extending upwardly from the bottom in spaced relation to the back, side walls joining the back, bottom and front wall, the upper edge of the front wall terminating intermediate the ends of the back, the front edges of the side walls inclining toward the back as they recede from the upper edge of the front wall and defining with the upper edge of the front wall an access opening for the box, a cover for the access opening slidable longitudinally over the inclined edges of the side walls and the front wall, and means yieldingly to hold the cover in contact with the box.

Other features include a top for the box, an outwardly and downwardly inclined flange at the front edge of the top of the box for overhanging the cover when the latter is in closed position in order to exclude the elements from the box, arms pivoted adjacent the lower forward edges of the side walls, means projecting laterally from the cover and engaging the arms, and means yieldingly urging the arms against the cover-engaging means, yieldingly to urge the cover against the box.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box embodying th features of this invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side View of the box showing the upper ends of the arms and the lower end of the cover, with the latter in elevated position,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially along the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, this improved box comprises a back ID, from the lower edge of which projects forwardly a bottom I I and projecting upwardly from the forward edge of the II and front wall ends of which are also joined to a top wall l4 carrying, at its forward edge, a downwardly and outwardly inclined flange l5, the purpose of which will be more fully hereinafter explained. While the wall l4 isshown as extending perpendicular to the back wal1 l0 and parallel to the bottom I I, it, too, may be inclined upwardly or downwardly as it recedes from the back l0, according to the desires of the maker. As illustrated in Figure 4, the front wall l2 terminates at a point intermediate the upper and lower ends of the back l0 which is preferably rectangular in plan, and formed at the upper edge of the front wall is an inturned flange or bead It. The front edges of the side walls I3 which extend between the flange l6 at the upper edge of the front wall I 2 and'the underside of the top [4 are inclined rearwardly, as at H, as they recede from the upper edge of the front wall l2. The

inclined edges I! of the side walls I 3, the forward edge of the top l4 and the upper edge of the bottom l 2 cooperate to define an access opening through which articles such as letters, parcels and the like may be introduced into the box, or removed therefrom.

In order to close the access opening, and at the same time permit the uncovering thereof, I provide a cover l8 which comprises a rectangular sheet of metal provided along opposite side edges with perpendicular flanges 19 forming guide flanges which partially overlie the sidewalls 13 adjacent their forward edges. Extending outwardly from the lower edge of the rectangular cover I8 is a flange 20 to which a suitable handle or pull 2| is fixed in any suitable manner. Extending outwardly from each side flange l9 near its lower end is a guide member 2|, and fixed to each flange and extending through its respective guide member 2| is a laterally extending lug 22, the purpose of which will be more fully hereinafter explained. The cover I8 is of an area easily to cover the access opening defined by the front edge of the top I4, the upper edge of the front Wall l2 and the front inclined portions of the edges of the side walls I3, and the front wall I2 is of an area at least equal to the area of the cover I8 so that the latter, when moved downis provided adjacent its upper end with a hook 26- which is adapted to engage the lug 22 on its ref1 spective side of the box when the cover I8 is in closed position. Surrounding each pivot 24 in concentric relation therewith is a helical spring 21, one arm 28 of which bearsagainst a portion of the bracket 23, while the opposite arm 29 .ofthe spring 21 bears against its respective arm'25 in order yieldingly to urge the free ends of the arms toward the back '10. It will thus; be seen that when the arms'25 bear against "the lugs 22 under the influence of the springs-21, the cover 118 will be yieldingl'y held against the box. In order to limit the downward movement of the cover over the front 12 and avoid contact of the u s 22 with thebrackets 23, each arm 25 is out away as at 31], along its rear edge to form a s p 3L In use, 'it will be understood that the back It! is screwed, or otherwise attached to a vertical support, with the access opening of the box upwardly. Assuming that the cover is in closed position, it will be evident that the upper edge-thereof will lie beneath the flan e l of the top Hi to form a water-tight junction with the cover while the side flanges 19 form Water-tight junctions with the side walls 13 of the box. Consequently, the contents .of the box will be protected from the elements. At 'thesame time, when it is desired to gain access to the contents of the box, the handle or pull 2! isgrasped and the-cover moved downwardly into the position illustrated in .Figure 4; thus uncovering the access opening.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it :is to be understood that minor changes in the details .of construction, combination and arrangement :of parts may be resorted to without-departing from the spirit and scope .of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention; what .I

claims as new is:

1. A box-comprising a rectangular backflabottom at the lower end of the'back; a front .wall extending upwardly from the bottom -il'1'.-5P&G6d relation tothe back; side walls joined to-the back, bottom and front wall; the'upper edge of the front -wall terminating intermediate. the e d pf the back; the front edges of the side walls inclining toward the back as they recedefro'm the upper edge of the front wall and defining with the upper edge of .the front wall-an access-opening for the boX;.-a cover .foriheaccss opening slidable longitudinally .over the inclined edges of the side walls and the front wall; and means yieldingly to hold the cover in contact .with'the box. 7

.2. A'box comprising a rectangularback; albot tomat the lower end of the hack; .a'front-wallex: tending upwardly from the bottom in spaced relation to the back; side walls joined to the back, bottom and front wall; the upper edge of the front wall terminating intermediate the ends of the back; the front edges of the side walls inclining toward the back as they recede from the upper edge of the front wall and defining with the upper edge of the front wall an access opening for the box; a cover for the access opening slidable longitudinally over the inclined edges of the side walls and the front wall; guide flanges along opposite side edges of the cover adapted partially to overlie the side walls; and means cooperating with the guide flanges yieldingly to hold the cover "in contact with the box.

. 3. A box comprising a rectangular back; a bottom at the lower end of the back; a front wall ex- "i tending upwardly from the bottom in spaced relation to the back; side walls joined to the back, bottom and front wall; the upper edge of the front wall terminating intermediate the ends of thebaick; the front edges of the sidewalls inclining toward the back as they recede from the upper edge of the front wall and defining with the upper edge of .the -:front wall an access opening for the box; a cover for the access opening slidable longitudinally over the inclined edges of :the side walls and the front wall; an arm pivoted adjacent the lower end of each sidewall; a lug projecting laterally from each side of the cover; and means :yieldingly to .hold the arms against the lugs and the cover againstthebox.

.4. 'A boxcomprising a rectangular back; a bottom at the :lower'end of the back; a front wall extending upwardly from the bottom in spaced relationto the back; side walls joined to the back, bottom and front wall; the upper edge of the front-wall terminating intermediate the ends of the back; the front edges of the side walls inclining toward the back as they recede from the upper edge'of. the front wall and defining with the upper edge of the front wall an access opening for the box; a cover for theaccess opening slidable longitudinally over the inclined edges of the side walls and the front wall; guide flanges along opposite side edges of the cover adapted partially to overlie the side walls; a lugprojecting laterally from each side flange; an arm pivotally supported adjacent the lower end of each side wall near the front w all; and means yieldingly to hold the arms against 111 lugs and the cover-against the box.

V '5. ngbox comprising a rectangular back; abottom-at the lower "end of theback; atop-at the upper end-of the back; afront wall-extending upward-1y from the bottom in spaced relation to the back; side walls joining the back and front wall with the stop and bottom; the upper edge ofthe front wall terminating intermediate the upper and lower ends of the back; the front edges of the side walls inclining rearwardlyas theyvrecede from the upper edge of the front .wall and-defining with the upper :edgeof .the front wall and the front edge .of the top a rectangular .access .opening for the box; a cover for-the access opening slidabl e .over the inclined frontedges of the side w'allsand the front wall; means yieldinglytohold the .coverin .contact with the box; and .adownwardly'and forwardly inclined flange at the forward edge of the top for. cooperation with-the cover to'form a water-tight junction therewith when the cover isin apositionto close the access opening.,-., f

' j. )DONA. vBEAIJELL. 

